Electronic document request/supply method based on XML

ABSTRACT

There is provided a method for requesting an electronic document based on XML in which the electronic document is created using a syntax defining a structure of a constructed electronic document. The electronic document request method can include creating a request document including an element name/attribute name based on a previously prescribed syntax without defining an additional syntax for requesting the electronic document, requesting a supply of the electronic document having an information on the element name/attribute name recorded in the request document, and receiving the electronic document including the information on the requested element name/attribute name.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic document request/supplymethod, and more particularly, to an XML-based electronic documentrequest/supply method.

2. Background of the Related Art

In recent years, an extensible markup language (hereinafter, referred toas “XML”) is widely used to create electronic documents. The utilizationof XML increases rapidly throughout the world, and government and publicoffices as well as general enterprises are increasingly introducing theXML. These electronic documents are generally created on the basis of asyntax prescribed by each organization. Specific languages have beenprovided for searching XML documents.

However, related art methods for searching or requesting electronicdocuments have various disadvantages. In a related art method forrequesting a supply of the electronic documents using these specificsearch languages, a user requesting the electronic document should learnan additional search language and designate a structure of the XMLdocument to be supplied as the search result. Accordingly, the relatedart methods are ineffective to the user who wants to request and receivethe electronic document created based on the previously designatedsyntax.

Further, in case of using the document requested and supplied in therelated art methods, the entire contents provided initially should betransmitted because there is no method of subsequent or additionalnotifications of contents deleted because of a change of documentcontents or notifications of invalid contents. The above references areincorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriateteachings of additional or alternative details, features and/ortechnical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the related art problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronicdocument request/supply method based on XML that substantially obviatesone or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

Another object of the present invention to provide an electronicdocument request/supply method based on XML that retrieves an XML-basedelectronic document according to a specific syntax.

Another object of the present invention to provide an electronicdocument request/supply method based on XML in which the electronicdocuments are supplied using a previously prescribed syntax withoutlearning or using the syntax of additional languages to request/supplythe electronic document.

Another object of the present invention to provide an electronicdocument request/supply method based on XML in which an electronicdocument application system utilized by a requester requests a search ofthe electronic document and processes the electronic document suppliedfrom an electronic document repository using only a method or algorithmfor processing a prescribed syntax.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronicdocument upgrade method based on XML in which a transmission efficiencyis improved by transmitting selected contents or indications to update apreviously supplied document.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronicdocument upgrade method based on XML in which a transmission efficiencyis improved by transmitting only deleted, invalid or not currently validcontents among contents of a previously supplied document and nottransmitting an entire previously supplied or deleted document.

To achieve at least the above-identified objects in a whole or in partaccording to the present invention, there is provided a method forrequesting an electronic document based on XML, the electronic documentbeing created using a syntax defining a structure of the electronicdocument, the method including creating a request document including anelement name/attribute name based on a previously prescribed syntaxwithout defining an additional syntax for requesting the electronicdocument, and requesting delivery of the electronic document having aninformation on the element name/attribute name recorded in the requestdocument.

To further achieve at least the above-identified objects in a whole orin part according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor supplying an electronic document based on XML, the electronicdocument including values of element name/attribute name contained in arequest document, the request document being requested using a syntaxdefining a structure of the constructed electronic document, the methodincluding providing an element name/attribute name based on a previouslydefined syntax in the request document among required elements, optionalelements, required attributes or optional attributes, and selectivelyproviding an identifier information in the request document identifyingan information on the element name/attribute name, wherein at least oneelectronic document that is supplied is valid for the previously definedsyntax and includes values of the element name/attribute name used inthe request document, and wherein when the identifier information isprovided the supplied electronic document satisfies the values of theelement name/attribute name and an identifier value of the requestdocument including a request information.

To further achieve at least the above-identified objects in a whole orin part according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor supplying an electronic document based on XML using a syntaxdefining a structure of the electronic document, the method includingsupplying a document including an invalid element to delete subsequentlyinvalid contents contained in a corresponding previously supplieddocument, wherein deletion of predetermined contents of thecorresponding document is notified by adding to-be-deleted contents tothe invalid element.

To further achieve at least the above-identified objects in a whole orin part according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor supplying an electronic document based on XML using a syntaxdefining a structure of the electronic document, the method includingdeleting of predetermined contents of a corresponding document bysupplying a subsequent document including an attribute identifyinginvalidity of the corresponding document to delete contents contained inthe corresponding document.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a related art client/server structure thatrequests/supplies a general XML-based electronic document;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a syntax structure of a broadcastingprogram produced by a related art method of creating an XML-basedelectronic document;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of a document type definition (DTD) showinga syntax of a broadcasting program produced by a related art method ofcreating an XML-based electronic document;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of an XML schema showing a syntax of abroadcasting program electronic document produced by a related artmethod of creating an XML-based electronic document;

FIGS. 5 and 6 ate exemplary views of a broadcasting program electronicdocument produced by a related art method of creating an XML-basedelectronic document;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view of a request document requesting a supply ofan electronic document created by a preferred embodiment of an XML-basedelectronic document request method according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view of an electronic document supplied accordingto the request document of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is another exemplary view of a request document requesting asupply of an electronic document created by a preferred embodiment of anXML-based electronic document request method according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view of an electronic document suppliedaccording to the request document of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view of providing information on a deleteddocument by supplying a document with an element name notifying aninvalid document according to another preferred embodiment of anXML-based electronic document supply method according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view of providing information on a deleteddocument by supplying a document with an attribute name notifying aninvalid document according to yet another preferred embodiment of anXML-based electronic document supply method according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The XML-based electronic documents are often managed in a client/serverstructure that stores the documents in the server and provides desiredelectronic documents according to the user's request. Such aclient/server structure is illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the client/server structure thatrequests/supplies a general XML-based electronic document. As shown inFIG. 1, the client is a document requester/user side, and the server isa document provider side. Accordingly, if a system requesting and usinga document has functions of storing and providing the document at thesame time, the system can simultaneously act as the client and theserver according to its role.

A language for searching these XML documents includes XML query language(XQL) and XQuery. These search languages are widely used to search XMLdocuments stored in an electronic document repository of the server andprovide a result in a form of XML document desired by the requester.

As an example, the XQL will be described below. The XQL is a means forsearching and selecting positions of data fields and texts existingwithin the XML document. The XML files are used to transmit datacollection between computers on the web. The XQL provides a tool forsearching or selecting a specific item in the data collection within theXML files. This is based on a format syntax that is used in anextensible style sheet language (XSL). The XQL is proposed as anextended version of the XSL.

For processing, the XSL format language uses a simple directory notationto indicate a specific element name. For example, “books/authors”represents “a searching of all author components within all bookcomponents in a specific context such as an XML file”. The XQL adds acapacity of using Boolean logic, selecting components and indexingcomponent collections to the directory format notation. The XQL makes itpossible to produce programs capable of searching the electronicdocument repository, which stores the XML files, and providinghyperlinks linked to specific components.

As described above, in a related art method for requesting a supply ofthe electronic documents using these search languages, a user requestingthe electronic document should learn an additional search language anddesignate a structure of the XML document to be supplied as the searchresult. Accordingly, the related art XQL method is ineffective to theuser who wants to request and receive the electronic document createdbased on the previously designated syntax.

Preferred embodiments of XML-based electronic document request methodsusing a prescribed syntax according to the present invention will now bedescribed. XML-based electronic documents can use a document typedefinition (DTD) or an XML schema language to define syntaxes. Thesesyntaxes define a structure of an entire electronic document andrestrict name and occurrence frequency of each element, order, whetherit is a required element or an optional element, attribute of eachelement, etc. The electronic documents become valid documents withrespect to the syntaxes provided by these languages.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention can constitute a requestdocument requesting desired information by using a prescribed syntax,and can request supply of information from an electronic documentrepository by using the request document. In other words, a requesterrequests the supply of the information to the electronic documentrepository by transmitting the request document or the like with thedesired information recorded based on the prescribed syntax.

A request document is preferably constituted with only an elementname/attribute name without detailed information values of elementnames/attribute names based on the syntax. Additionally, if there is aninformation that can limit the to-be-supplied information, an identifieror an element name/attribute name based on the syntax can be recorded inthe request document together with specific values.

Accordingly, when the requester sends the request document to theelectronic document repository for the purpose of requesting the supplyof the electronic document, the syntax of a required element or arequired attribute among the limitations of the prescribed syntaxes maynot be observed. In other words, because the supply of the electronicdocument is requested to the repository after inserting only the desiredelement or the attribute values, the required element or the requiredattribute can be omitted if there is not the desired information value.

In the element name/attribute name representing the to-be-suppliedinformation and having an identifier value or specific value forlimiting the information, the electronic document described according toa hierarchy structure of the prescribed syntax is preferably used as therequest document. The electronic document can be supplied that includesthe value of the desired element name/attribute name and satisfies thevalue of the element name/attribute name used as the identificationvalue or the conditions.

In other words, according to embodiments of the XML-based electronicdocument request/supply method of the present invention, a supply of theelectronic document having the corresponding information is requested byusing a request document in which the identification value of theto-be-requested electronic document and the to-be-supplied element aredescribed according to the hierarchy structure of the prescribed syntax.

Additionally, according to embodiments of the XML-based electronicdocument request/supply method of the present invention, an attributevalue is added at the provider side to notify an invalidity of thecontents to be deleted if contents of the supplied document are deletedor not valid any more. Further, according to embodiments of theXML-based electronic document request/supply method of the presentinvention, if predetermined contents of the supplied document aredeleted or not valid any more, the invalidity of the document ispreferably notified by inserting only the to-be-deleted contents intothe element name.

The embodiments of a electronic document request/supply method accordingto the present invention can be applied, for example, to the requesterrequesting the supply of the electronic document, the provider supplyingthe requested electronic document, and a system configured with anetwork connecting the requester and the provider. Also, the electronicdocument request/supply method can be applied to a system that providesonly basic information under an environment such as a broadcastingprogram providing system and then receives an additional information viaa network according to the user's request.

For example, a syntax of the electronic document of the broadcastingprogram can be defined as follows, and an electronic documentrequest/supply method will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2is an exemplary view showing a syntax structure of a broadcastingprogram produced by a related art method of creating an XML-basedelectronic document.

As shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the broadcasting program has atitle and program identifier (ID) information uniquely indicating theprogram, an information on a broadcast such as broadcasting service,time and duration, and information on contents such as synopsis, review,and casting. This information for the broadcasting program—such astitle, program ID, information on broadcast such as broadcastingservice, time and duration, and information on contents such assynopsis, review, and casting—is “data about data” or “metadata.”Herein, the case where the title, the program identifier, the time andthe duration are defined as the required elements will be described.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, a solid line can represent a requiredelement and a doffed line can represent an optional element.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these programs can be illustrated using a DTDand an XML schema. FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of the DTD showing syntaxof the broadcasting program produced by a related art method of creatingthe XML-based electronic document, and FIG. 4 is an exemplary view ofthe XML schema showing syntax of the broadcasting program created by arelated method of creating the XML-based electronic document.

The DTD is regulations for applying XML in order to markup a specificdocument type and determined by its application. A definition of thedocument type can include an element type that can be expressed by themarkup, an element relationship and attribute, and a regulation relatedto a reference.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, there are shown broadcasting programs actually createdbased on the syntax. FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of exemplary broadcastingprogram electronic documents created by a related art method of creatingthe XML-based electronic document. Here, the title that is the requiredelement is all contained, but the optional elements may not becontained. As shown in FIGS. 5-6, for example, data about electronicdocument contents such as a title, a synopsis and the like of atelevision program can generally be considered metadata.

FIG. 7 is a diagram that shows an exemplary view of a request documentrequesting a supply of an electronic document created by the XML-basedelectronic document request method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. It is assumed that the requester requests the reviewof a specific program to the broadcasting station. At this time, therequester can create the request document as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the request document can use the same syntax ofFIGS. 5 and 6. Although the present invention is not intended to be solimited. However, the title element that is the required element isomitted, and the supply of the electronic document is requested to therepository after insetting “the identifier” element of the desiredprogram and “the review” element.

Accordingly, the request document can be supplied to the electronicdocument repository by the request of the user or the like who producesthe request document shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a diagram that shows anexemplary view of the requested electronic document supplied accordingto the request document of FIG. 7. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, theelectronic document including the requested information can be suppliedto the electronic document application system utilized by the usersaccording to the prescribed syntax.

As a further example, it is assumed that the requester requests programsin which a specific actor or actress performs. At this time, therequester can create the request document as shown in FIG. 9. As shownin FIG. 9, the request document can use the same syntax of FIGS. 5 and6. However, the tide element that is the required element is omitted,and the supply of the electronic document is requested to the repositoryafter inserting only “the casting” element of the desired program. Here,since the “title” element and the information on “the broadcast” are therequired elements, this information is automatically provided even ifthey are not marked in the request document.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the electronic document repositorysupplies the electronic document application system utilized by theusers with the electronic document including the requested informationaccording to the prescribed syntax in response to the user's request.

According to the embodiments of XML-based electronic documentrequest/supply methods of the present invention, the requester canrequest a supply of the electronic document stored in the electronicdocument repository by using the prescribed syntax (e.g., withoutlearning a syntax of the additional language for the search request).Additionally, embodiments of methods of the present invention can beperformed more effectively since the electronic document supplied fromthe electronic document repository is processed by using only thesystem, which processes the prescribed syntax based on the XML.

At this time, the element name/attribute name of the request document isselectively recorded among the required/optional elements and/or therequired/optional attributes for the syntax defining the constructedelectronic document structure. The element name/attribute nameselectively recorded in the request document can represent the elementname/attribute name of information that should be provided to theto-be-supplied electronic document. Further, if corresponding values arerecorded in the element/attribute selectively recorded in the requestdocument, the recorded values of the element name/attribute namerepresents the conditions of the element name/attribute name that shouldbe satisfied by the electronic document provided in response to theuser's request.

Further, if there are the contents to be deleted due to a change in thecontents of the document, for example, if a prearranged broadcastingprogram is cancelled, the processes can be performed as shown in FIGS.11 and/or FIG. 12. In other words, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,cancellation of the prearranged broadcasting program, for example, canbe notified by adding an invalid or deletion element name or attributename or the like.

FIG. 11 is a diagram that shows an exemplary view of an embodimentproviding information on a deleted document by supplying a document withan element notifying that the document is invalid according to anembodiment of an XML-based electronic document supply method of thepresent invention. FIG. 12 is an exemplary view of providing informationon a deleted document by supplying a document with an attributenotifying that the document is invalid according to another embodimentof an XML-based electronic document supply method of the presentinvention.

In more detail, information on the cancellation of a prearrangedbroadcasting program, for example “Larry King,” can be provided byadding the invalid element as shown in FIG. 11. At this time, theto-be-deleted contents contained as the invalid contents within thesupplied document can be determined by an identifier element that canidentify the document. If the identifier element is supplied as thecontents of the invalid element, the corresponding entire document canbe deleted. If the identifier (e.g., identifier element) that canidentify the corresponding document within the supplied document iscontained and only the to-be-deleted contents of the correspondingdocument are contained as the invalid element name, only thecorresponding contents contained within the invalid element name arepreferably deleted.

Further, the information on the cancellation of the prescribedbroadcasting program, for example “Larry King,” can be provided simplyby adding the attribute name <Program Invalid=“true”> as exemplarilyshown in FIG. 12. At this time, the attribute name notifying theinvalidity of the supplied document can be an attribute of theidentifier element name that can identify the to-be-deleted document. Incase of providing the attribute name notifying that the attribute of theidentifier element name becomes invalid, the corresponding entiredocument that can be identified by the corresponding document identifieris deleted.

Additionally, if the identifier that can identify the correspondingdocument within the supplied document is contained and only theto-be-deleted contents of the corresponding document are provided as anattribute notifying the invalidity, only the corresponding contentsamong the documents identified by the document identifier are preferablydeleted.

According to embodiments of XML-based electronic document supply methodsof the present invention, it is possible to gradually upgrade thedocument by deleting the contents, that are deleted or not valid anymore because of a change in the contents of the document, without havingto newly supply the document, or by supplying only the invalid contents.

As described above, preferred embodiments of methods for documentrequest and/or supply have various advantages. According to preferredembodiments of the present invention, XML-based electronic documents canbe effectively supplied using the previously prescribed syntax withoutlearning the syntax of additional languages to request the electronicdocument. Further, an electronic document application system utilized bythe requester can request the search of the electronic document andprocess the electronic document supplied from the electronic documentrepository using only an apparatus and/or algorithm for processing theprescribed syntax. In addition, if some or the entire contents of thesupplied document are deleted or become invalid, the use of the invaliddocument or its contents can be reduced or prevented by simply notifyingthe deleted contents.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1. A method implemented by an apparatus for supplying electronicdocuments based on XML, the method comprising: supplying from a providerof a program broadcasting system to a client in the program providingsystem an electronic document that uses XML to describe programminginformation about a plurality of television broadcast programs scheduledfor broadcast in the program broadcasting system, the electronicdocument having a hierarchical structure based on a prescribed syntax,the hierarchical structure including an upper fragment and a pluralityof lower fragments located below the upper fragment in the hierarchicalstructure to describe, for each of the scheduled television broadcastprograms, a program identifier, a title, broadcast information andcorresponding program content information; and supplying from theprovider to the client an update document to update the previouslysupplied electronic document, the update document having a structurebased on the prescribed syntax and including the upper fragment and aninvalid element to identify an invalid fragment as one of the lowerfragments in the hierarchical structure, wherein the invalid fragment isrelated to one of the television broadcast programs described in thepreviously supplied electronic document, and wherein the update documentindicates deletion of said invalid fragment from the electronic documentaccording to the invalid element.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein whenthe invalid element indicates the deletion of only said invalidfragment, only the invalid fragment is deleted from the previouslysupplied electronic document at the client.
 3. A method implemented byan apparatus for updating a previously supplied electronic documentdescribing programming information about a plurality of televisionbroadcast programs scheduled for broadcast in a program broadcastingsystem, wherein the previously supplied electronic document is stored ina client of the program broadcasting system and has a hierarchicalstructure based on a prescribed syntax, the hierarchical structureincluding an upper fragment and a plurality of lower fragments locatedbelow the upper fragment in the hierarchical structure to describe, foreach of the scheduled television broadcast programs, a programidentifier, a title, broadcast information and corresponding programcontent information, the method comprising: requesting by the client anupdated version of said previously supplied electronic document from aprovider in the program broadcasting system; in response to the request,receiving from the provider at the client an update document based onXML to update content in the previously supplied electronic document,wherein the update document has a structure based on the prescribedsyntax and includes the upper fragment and an invalid element whichindicates that one of the lower fragments of the previously suppliedelectronic document is invalid, wherein the invalid fragment is relatedto one of the television broadcast programs scheduled for broadcast inthe program broadcasting system; and deleting said invalid fragment fromthe previously supplied electronic document as indicated by the invalidelement at said client.
 4. A method implemented by an apparatus forupdating a previously supplied electronic document based on XML, whereinsaid previously supplied electronic document describes programminginformation about a plurality of television broadcast programs scheduledfor broadcast in a program broadcasting system, and the previouslysupplied electronic document is stored in a client of the programbroadcasting system and has a hierarchical structure based on aprescribed syntax, the hierarchical structure including an upperfragment and a plurality of lower fragments located below the upperfragment in the hierarchical structure to describe, for each of thescheduled television broadcast programs, a program identifier, a title,broadcast information and corresponding program content information, themethod comprising: requesting by the client an updated version of saidpreviously supplied electronic document from a provider in the programbroadcasting system; in response to the request, receiving from theprovider at the client an update document for updating said previouslysupplied electronic document, said update document having a structurebased on the prescribed syntax and including the upper fragment and aninvalid element which indicates that one of the lower fragments of thepreviously supplied electronic document is invalid, wherein said invalidfragment is identified by the invalid element and is related to one ofthe television broadcast programs scheduled for broadcast in the programbroadcasting system; and deleting said invalid fragment from thepreviously supplied electronic document as indicated by the invalidelement at said client.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein saidprescribed syntax is defined by an XML schema.
 6. The method of claim 4,wherein said deleting includes identifying in the previously suppliedelectronic document said invalid fragment identified by said invalidelement at said client.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein said invalidfragment is indicated to be invalid by an invalid attribute.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein said prescribed syntax is defined by an XMLschema.
 9. A method implemented by an apparatus for updating apreviously supplied electronic document related to a schedule ofbroadcasting a plurality of television broadcast programs in a programbroadcasting system, wherein the previously supplied electronic documentis stored in a client of the program broadcasting system and has ahierarchical structure based on a prescribed syntax, the hierarchicalstructure including an upper fragment and a plurality of lower fragmentslocated below the upper fragment in the hierarchical structure todescribe, for each of the television broadcast programs, a programidentifier, a title, broadcast information and corresponding programcontent information, the method comprising: requesting by the client anupdated version for said previously supplied electronic document from aprovider in the program broadcasting system; in response to the request,receiving from the provider at the client an update document forupdating the previously supplied electronic document, the updatedocument having a structure based on the prescribed syntax and includingthe upper fragment and an invalid element which indicates an invalidfragment as one of the lower fragments of the previously suppliedelectronic document, wherein said invalid fragment is related to one ofthe television broadcast programs scheduled for broadcast in the programbroadcasting system; and deleting said invalid fragment from thepreviously supplied electronic document at said client as indicated bythe invalid element in the update document supplied from said provider.10. The method of claim 9, wherein said invalid element is defined insaid prescribed syntax.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said syntaxis XML schema.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said deleting includesidentifying in the previously supplied electronic document said invalidfragment identified by said invalid element at said client.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, wherein said invalid fragment is indicated to beinvalid by an invalid attribute.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinsaid invalid attribute is defined in said prescribed syntax.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 16. A methodimplemented by an apparatus for updating a previously suppliedelectronic document providing programming information related tobroadcasting a plurality of television broadcast programs scheduled forbroadcast in a program broadcasting system, wherein said previouslysupplied electronic document is stored in a client of the programbroadcasting system and has a hierarchical structure based on aprescribed syntax, the hierarchical structure including an upperfragment and a plurality of lower fragments located below the upperfragment in the hierarchical structure to describe, for each of thescheduled television broadcast programs, a program identifier, a title,broadcast information and corresponding program content information, themethod comprising: receiving at a provider of the program broadcastingsystem a request from said client for an updated version of saidpreviously supplied electronic document; and supplying from the providerto said client an update document to update the previously suppliedelectronic document, the update document having a structure based on theprescribed syntax and including the upper fragment and an invalidelement, the invalid element indicating that one of the lower fragmentsof said previously supplied electronic document is invalid, wherein saidinvalid fragment is identified by the invalid element to be deleted fromthe previously supplied electronic document, and the invalid fragment isrelated to one of the television broadcast programs scheduled forbroadcast in the program broadcasting system.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein said invalid element is defined in said prescribed syntax.18. The method of claim 17, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 19. Themethod of claim 16, wherein said invalid fragment is indicated to beinvalid by an invalid attribute.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinsaid invalid attribute is defined in said prescribed syntax.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 22. A methodimplemented by an apparatus for updating a previously suppliedelectronic document providing programming information related tobroadcasting a plurality of television broadcast programs scheduled forbroadcast in a program broadcasting system, wherein said previouslysupplied electronic document is stored in a client of the programbroadcasting system and has a hierarchical structure based on aprescribed syntax, the hierarchical structure including an upperfragment and a plurality of lower fragments located below the upperfragment in the hierarchical structure to describe, for each of thescheduled television broadcast programs, a program identifier, a title,broadcast information and corresponding program content information, themethod comprising: identifying a version of said previously suppliedelectronic document as invalid; from the client, receiving at a providerof the program broadcasting system a request for an updated version ofsaid previously supplied electronic document; and supplying from theprovider to said client an update document to update the previouslysupplied electronic document, the update document having a structurebased on the prescribed syntax and including the upper fragment and aninvalid element, the invalid element indicating that one of the lowerfragments of said previously supplied electronic document is invalid,wherein said invalid fragment is identified by the invalid element to bedeleted from the previously supplied electronic document, and theinvalid fragment is related to one of the television broadcast programsscheduled for broadcast in the program broadcasting system.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, wherein said invalid element is defined in saidprescribed syntax.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said syntax isXML schema.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein said invalid fragment isindicated to be invalid by an invalid attribute.
 26. The method of claim25, wherein said invalid attribute is defined in said prescribed syntax.27. The method of claim 26, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 28. Amethod implemented by an apparatus for processing a response to arequest for updating a previously supplied electronic document relatedto a schedule of broadcasting a plurality of television broadcastprograms in a program broadcast system, wherein said previously suppliedelectronic document is stored in a client of the program broadcastingsystem and has a hierarchical structure based on a prescribed syntax,the hierarchical structure including an upper fragment and a pluralityof lower fragments located below the upper fragment in the hierarchicalstructure to describe, for each of the scheduled television broadcastprograms, a program identifier, a title, broadcast information andcorresponding program content information, the method comprising:receiving at the client an update document from a provider in theprogram broadcasting system, the update document having a structurebased on the prescribed syntax and including the upper fragment and aninvalid element to delete a first lower fragment of said previouslysupplied electronic document, wherein said invalid element indicatesthat said first lower fragment is invalid, and wherein said invalidfirst lower fragment is identified by the invalid element and is relatedto one of the scheduled television broadcast programs; identifying inthe previously supplied electronic document said invalid first lowerfragment identified by said invalid element at said client; andcontrolling to delete said identified invalid first lower fragment fromthe previously supplied electronic document at said client.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein said invalid element is defined in saidprescribed syntax.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said syntax isXML schema.
 31. The method of claim 28, wherein said invalid first lowerfragment is indicated to be invalid by an invalid attribute.
 32. Themethod of claim 31, wherein said invalid attribute is defined in saidprescribed syntax.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein said syntax isXML schema.
 34. A method implemented by an apparatus for replying to arequest for updating a previously supplied electronic document relatedto a schedule of broadcasting a plurality of television broadcastprograms in a program broadcast system, wherein said previously suppliedelectronic document is stored in a client of the program broadcastingsystem and has a hierarchical structure based on a prescribed syntax,the hierarchical structure including an upper fragment and a pluralityof lower fragments located below the upper fragment in the hierarchicalstructure to describe, for each of the scheduled television broadcastprograms, a program identifier, a title, broadcast information andcorresponding program content information, the method comprising:supplying said client with an update document from a provider of theprogram broadcasting system, the update document having a structurebased on the prescribed syntax and including the upper fragment and aninvalid element to delete a first lower fragment of said previouslysupplied electronic document at the client, wherein said invalid elementindicates that said first lower fragment is invalid and should bedeleted from the previously supplied electronic document, wherein theinvalid first lower fragment is related to one of the scheduledtelevision broadcast programs.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein saidinvalid element is defined in said prescribed syntax.
 36. The method ofclaim 35, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 37. The method of claim 34,wherein said invalid first lower fragment is indicated to be invalid byan invalid attribute.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said invalidattribute is defined in said prescribed syntax.
 39. The method of claim38, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 40. A method implemented by anapparatus for processing a response to a request for updating apreviously supplied electronic document providing programminginformation about a plurality of television broadcast programs scheduledfor broadcast in a program broadcasting system, wherein the previouslysupplied electronic document has a hierarchical structure based on aprescribed syntax, the hierarchical structure including an upperfragment and a plurality of lower fragments located below the upperfragment in the hierarchical structure to describe, for each of thescheduled television broadcast programs, a program identifier, a title,broadcast information and corresponding program content information,wherein the response to the request provides an update document having astructure based on the prescribed syntax and including the upperfragment and an invalid element which indicates that one of the lowerfragments of the previously supplied electronic document is invalid,wherein said invalid fragment is related to one of the scheduledtelevision broadcast programs, the method comprising: identifying saidinvalid fragment in the previously supplied electronic document by usingthe invalid element of the update document at said client; andcontrolling to delete said identified invalid fragment from thepreviously supplied electronic document at said client.
 41. The methodof claim 40, wherein said invalid element is defined in said prescribedsyntax.
 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said syntax is XML schema.43. The method of claim 40, wherein said invalid fragment is indicatedto be invalid by an invalid attribute.
 44. The method of claim 43,wherein said invalid attribute is defined in said prescribed syntax. 45.The method of claim 44, wherein said syntax is XML schema.
 46. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the program content information includes asynopsis, casting information or a review.
 47. The method of claim 1,wherein the broadcast information specifies a broadcast service, abroadcast time, and a broadcast duration.
 48. The method of claim 3,wherein the program content information includes a synopsis, castinginformation or a review.
 49. The method of claim 3, wherein thebroadcast information specifies a broadcast service, a broadcast time,and a broadcast duration.
 50. The method of claim 4, wherein the programcontent information includes a synopsis, casting information or areview.
 51. The method of claim 4, wherein the broadcast informationspecifies a broadcast service, a broadcast time, and a broadcastduration.
 52. The method of claim 9, wherein the program contentinformation includes a synopsis, casting information or a review. 53.The method of claim 9, wherein the broadcast information specifies abroadcast service, a broadcast time, and a broadcast duration.
 54. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the invalid element in the update documentincludes the invalid fragment.
 55. The method of claim 1, wherein theinvalid element includes a fragment identifier to identify the invalidfragment.
 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the fragment identifierincludes date information.
 57. The method of claim 1, wherein theinvalid element is provided to the client in the update document inaccordance with the hierarchical structure of the electronic document.58. The method of claim 1, wherein the invalid element includesinformation to be invalidated.
 59. The method of claim 1, wherein theupdate document indicates deletion of said invalid fragment from theelectronic document based on an element identifier or an element versionwhich indicates a date and a time.
 60. The method of claim 28, whereinthe invalid element in the update document includes the invalid firstlower fragment.
 61. The method of claim 28, wherein the invalid elementincludes a fragment identifier to identify the invalid first lowerfragment.
 62. The method of claim 58, wherein the fragment identifierincludes date information.
 63. A method implemented by an apparatus forsupplying electronic documents based on XML, the method comprising:supplying from a provider of a program broadcasting system to a clientin the program providing system an electronic document that uses XML todescribe programming information about a plurality of televisionbroadcast programs scheduled for broadcast in the program broadcastingsystem, the electronic document having a hierarchical structure based ona prescribed syntax, the hierarchical structure including an upperfragment and a plurality of lower fragments located below the upperfragment in the hierarchical structure to describe, for each of thescheduled television broadcast programs, a program identifier, a title,broadcast information and corresponding program content information; andsupplying from the provider to the client an update document to updatethe previously supplied electronic document, the update document havinga structure based on the prescribed syntax and including the upperfragment and an invalid attribute to identify an invalid fragment as oneof the lower fragments in the hierarchical structure, wherein theinvalid fragment is related to one of the television broadcast programsdescribed in the previously supplied electronic document, and whereinthe update document indicates deletion of said invalid fragment from theelectronic document according to the invalid attribute.
 64. The methodof claim 63, wherein the update document includes the invalid fragment.65. A method implemented by an apparatus for updating a previouslysupplied electronic document describing programming information about aplurality of television broadcast programs scheduled for broadcast in aprogram broadcasting system, wherein the previously supplied electronicdocument is stored in a client of the program broadcasting system andhas a hierarchical structure based on a prescribed syntax, thehierarchical structure including an upper fragment and a plurality oflower fragments located below the upper fragment in the hierarchicalstructure to describe, for each of the scheduled television broadcastprograms, a program identifier, a title, broadcast information andcorresponding program content information, the method comprising: at theclient, receiving an update document from a provider of the programbroadcasting system to update content in the previously suppliedelectronic document, wherein the update document is based on XML and hasa structure based on the prescribed syntax and includes the upperfragment and an invalid attribute which indicates that one of the lowerfragments of the previously supplied electronic document is invalid,wherein the invalid fragment is related to one of the televisionbroadcast programs scheduled for broadcast in the program broadcastingsystem; and deleting said invalid fragment from the previously suppliedelectronic document as indicated by the invalid attribute at saidclient.
 66. The method of claim 65, further comprising: requesting bythe client an updated version of said previously supplied electronicdocument from the provider in the program broadcasting system, whereinreceiving the update document at the client includes receiving theupdate document in response to the request.
 67. The method of claim 65,wherein the update document includes the invalid fragment.